Stretcher



Dec. 11, 1934. H. T. ANDERSON ET Al.

STRETCHER Filed Oct. 24, 1935,

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Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE C. Davis,.Dover,y Ohio Application October 24,

7 claims.

This invention relates to stretchers, and has for its object the provision of 'novel means whereby the disabled person or patient may be expeditiously placed on the stretcher without the application of force which will inconvenience the person or cause him agony due to the manipulations that are necessary to place him on the stretcher. As has been stated, the stretcher is intended for use in handling disabled persons,

whether they have Abeen sick or injured, -and in further reference to such persons for convenience in description they will be referred to as patients, which will comprehend all of the foregoing conditions.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stretcher having lengths of patient supporting fabric which are separable one from they other, by reason of their being movable independently one of the other transversely of a frame on which the fabric vis mounted; means being provided in association with'the fabric and the frame for retaining the lengths of fabric in certain positions of adjustment; means being also provided whereby lengths of fabric are supported by the durable sustaining web is provided.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sectional frame, the sections of which may be adjusted with relation to one another, whereby one end of the frame may be swung or adjusted to positions at'angles with relation to the other end of the frame, the said adjustment being attainable within the range of 180 degrees; means being provided for securing the sections in different degrees of adjustment in order that the patient may assume a natural sitting position and be supported, or that he may be supported in reclining positions at different angles, according to the desires of the attendant or patient.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to provide means whereby the side members or bars of a stretcher may be moved apart while the frame is being placed over a patient preparatory to the adjustment of the supporting fabric as it is placed under the patient, it being understood that means are provided for holding the side rmembers against movement, except when certain securing devices are released to permit adjustments.

It is furthermore an object to provide telescopically arranged bars at the lends of the stretcher which connect the side members, the u arrangement being such that a rigid rectangular frame results when the fastenings, are applied aforesaid fastening means whereby a strong and f 193s, serial No. 695,012

(ci. s v-szl for holding the parts together, and the aforesaid securing parts are also associated with means atthe ends of the fabric for supporting and tensioning the said fabric lengthwise.

It is a still further object of this invention to 5 provide handles which are adjustable to positions parallel with the side members or at right vangles thereto and said adjustment is afforded at positions between the aforesaid locations, it being understood that the said handles may act as feet or supports for the stretcher which will serve to hold it above the floor or ground in order that the stretcher may be expeditiously manipulated and the side members thereof grasped.

With lthe foregoing and other objects'in view, 15 the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in'detail, reference 20 will be had to the accompanying drawing'forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in'whichl Y Figure '1 illustrates a plan view of a stretcher 25 embodying the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a side elevation thereof with the handles adjusted to support the frame;

Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view through the side members approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

'Figure 4 illustrates a face View ofthe inner end Vof one of the sections of the side frame; f Figure 5 illustrates a 'plan view of a fragment of the stretcher at one corner, 'partly in: section; and

Figure 6y illustrates a perspective view of a detailof meansforconnectingthe fabric straps to the' side members.

In the present embodiment ofthe invention, the sectional side members each consists of a 'tubular section 10 andll' whose contiguous ends have serratedl contacting surfaces as shown at 12, and a pivot i3 extends through the said ends, 'the said pivot being in the nature of a bolt having a fastening threaded thereon, the said fastening being here shown asin the nature vof awing nut 14. v

The side members are, as heretofore stated, provided with a plurality of handles and, in the present embodiment of these handles, a boss is provided for each handle and it may be secured to the side member by any appropriate vmechanical fastening, or by the usual welding processes. The-@etiche of the side members preferably con- CTL sist of tubular metal so that the bosses inay be Y secured to them as desired. Each boss has a serrated face 16, the serrations of whichrare engaged by serrations 17 on the body 13 of the' handle V19 and a threaded stud 20 on the boss extends through an aperture ofi'the body of the handle and a threaded element 21 threaded on the stud holds the serrated surfaces of the boss and handle interlocked for retain-ing the handle at different' positions of adjustment, to which reference has been made.

The sections of the side members each has. at its outer end a handle 22 that may be secured in place in any desired manner, but for the purpose" of illustrating one embodiment,the handle 2211sshown as having a shank` 23 extending. into. the tubular section, the same being held in place by a cross pin 24. Each sectioriioii'the side'niernbers'- at or near the end having the handle is pro-` vided with laterally extending bars 25 which telescope inx a tube- 26', it being understood that a-bar from each side member at one end enters the tubular member, andi the tubular member is slotted asat 27 for the purpose of receiving the hooked ends 28 of the: rods 29. Eachlrod has a shankA 30r passing through apertures of a side member. The shank is: threaded asat 31 and it is engaged by aK nut 32 which serves to' hold the hooked endv of the rod in theA tubular member, the inner extremity of the. hook being seated'` in an aperture ot .the bar 25'.4 The hook` furthermore engages a shoulder 25EL at the end of theslot of the bar andY this serves toz limit the movement of the ban As shown inthe drawing,` the' bottom panels 33 and 3ir each h'asY eyelets or aperturesy 35' in which members which in their physical embodiment maybe-in the' nature of loops 36'arey locate'df,each set of loops embracing one of the rods 29'. 'I'he loops are slidable` on' thel rods as the panels are moved laterally of the frame when? a patient? is to be. placed oni the stretcher. As has been stated', the panels which form: the bottom of the stretcher are separable one from the` other transversely of theframe in order that a space between the panels may be created to| permit' the frame to be placed over the patient and the said panels adjusted-- under him so that the patient may be liftedA withthe manipulation of the stretcher. 1n order to-accomplish the`A foregoing result, the panels are provided with securing and sustaining clon-:ents of.' rio-vel construction. In the present embodiment of the invention, each panel is provided near its outer edge with a plurality of fabric straps: 37'. The inner endk oi? each strap is secured to the under surface of the panel near its edgel and the outer end ot said. strap'y is anchored to the adjacent side-member, whichZ side member has a plurality of pins 38 to which apertured ends of the straps are applied. These straps 37 serve tof hold the panels againstinward movement.

As a further means for holding the panels stretched and supported, straps of fabric of vsuitable lengthare associated with the respective panels as follows. @ne such strap identied by the numeral 39 is secured to the panel 34 and underliesthe panel 33, the said strap being secured to the side member of the frame adjacent the panel 33, theY said fasteninfrs being the same as described as anchorages for the straps 37. Another such strap 40 alternating with the strap 39 is secured at one end to the panel 33 and it underliesthe` panel 34 acting as a support for the same andthey said strap is secured to the side member adjacent the panel 34. The aforesaid straps 39 and 40'alternate in the manner stated, except that in the center or approximate center of the frame, two of the supporting or sustaining straps 41 are connected to both of the side frame members, for it is at this location that the greatest weight is usually present during the use of a stretcher. Of course the joints between these straps and the frame members are removable in order that theA side frame members may be separated from eacli other or adjusted inlapplying the stretcher to the patient or vice versa. One of the sustaining straps 41 is secured to the panel 33 and extends under the panel 34, whereas the other. such strap is secured to the panel 34 and extends under the panel 33 but, as stated, both en'dsoiv each strap' are anchored to the side members ofthe frame.

Figure @there is shown a snap fastening by which the fabric straps may be anchored or attached to` the side members but this is a detail of. construction which may bel changed to suit particular requirements.

Instead of the'loops 36, devices may be subst-irtuted therefor such as dou-ble ended snap hooks or other openablelinl: members which will permit them to be detached from the rods without the necessity of removing the rods from the said side` members or bars. Since devices of this-:type are well known, it isbelieved unnecessary to-illustrate an example of a commontype.

We claim:

1. AA stretcher comprising a rectangular frame, supporting panels elongated longitudinally of the frame and separable one from the other at the cen-tre of the frame, members connected to the ends ofl thefpanels, means connected to the ends of the frame for slidingly supporting the members near the ends of the frame, and means con' nected to the panels and` anchored to the' frame for holding the panelsin operative positionS-.-

.2.4 A.- stretcher comprising a rectangular frame, rods nearv each enol-` of thev framesupporting panels extending longitudinally of the frame and terminating near the aforesaid rods, members anchored to the said panels near their ends and slidably engaging the aforesaid rodswhereby the panels may be moved laterally in oppositefdirections, and elements attached to the said panels and detachably connectedto the frame tor holding the panels in` operativepositions.`

3. A stretcher comprisingl a rectangular frame, rods connectedfto the frame near each endV thereof, supporting panels extending longitudinally of the frame and terminating' near the aforesaid rods, members anchoredto the said panels near their ends andslidably engaging the aforesaid rods whereby the panels may be moved laterally in opposite directions, elements attached to each 'of the panels and extending under the other panel and projecting therebeyond, and means for detachably connecting the extended portions'oi the elements to one of theA frame elements;

4. A stretcher comprising a rectangular frame, rods connected to the frame near' each end thereof, supporting panels extending longitudinally Vof the frame and terminating near the aforesaid rods, members anchored tothe saidI panels near their ends and slidably engaging the aforesaid rods whereby the panels may be moved"l laterally in opposite directions, elements attached to the respective panels and projecting under' the opposite panel and extending therebeyond, and means for detachably connecting the projected portions of the elements to the frame.

'. A stretcher' comprising a` rectangular frame,

rods connected to the frame near each end thereof, supporting panels extending longitudinally of the frame and terminating near the aforesaid rods, members anchored to the said panels near their ends and slidably engaging the aforesaid rods whereby the panels may be moved laterally in opposite directions, elements attached to the respective panels and projecting at the edges thereof, and means for detachably securing the projected portions of the elements to the frame.

6. In a stretcher, a frame comprising sectional side members, means for pivotally connecting the inner ends of the members on each side together, means for adjustably holding the sections at different positions of adjustment, inwardly extending elements on each of the sections of the side members near their outer ends, a tubular member in which they telescope, rods having hooked inner ends extending into the tubular member at each end of the frame and engaging the transversely dispo-sed members, each of the rods having a shank extending through a side member, means for securing the shank to the said side member, patient supporting panels encompassed by the frame, and means secured to the panels near their ends and slidable on the rods for supporting the said panels.

'7. In a stretcher, a frame comprising sectional side members, means for pivotally connecting the inner ends of the members on each side together, means for adjustably holding the sections at different positions of adjustment, a handle on the outer end of each section, a handle on the side of each section of the side member, means for holding the handle on the side of the section parallel with the side member or at angles With relation thereto, inwardly extending elements on each of the sections of the side members near their outer ends, a tubular member in which they telescope, rods having hooked inner ends extending into the tubular member at each end of the frame and engaging the transversely disposed members, each of the rods having a shank extending through a side member, means for securing the shank to the said side member, patient supporting panels encompassed by the frame, and means secured to the panels near their ends and slidable on the rods for supporting the said panels.

HARRY T. ANDERSON. EDGAR C. DAVIS. 

